ENAR Weekly Mail 11
9 September 2005
NEWS FROM THE ENAR SECRETARIAT
· Press release: France fails on minority housing rights
On 2 September, ENAR expressed its concern about the reaction of the French authorities after 24 Africans died late August when the dilapidated and dangerous buildings they lived in caught fire. The two incidents again drew the attention to the often appalling living conditions of the immigrant community in the city. Read the press release: in English // in French
FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless, also issued a press release, entitled “Tragic deaths of migrants in Paris fires show the stark reality of the housing crisis in Europe today”. Read the Statement: in English // in French
· Fact Sheet 22: Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
In December 2003 representatives of the then 15 EU Member States decided that the remit of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) should be extended, in order to make it an Agency for Fundamental Rights. Since then there has been much discussion and debate as to how exactly this should be done, and what areas of fundamental rights would be covered by the extended Agency. In the Fact Sheet, ENAR summarises developments until now: in English // in French
FROM ENAR MEMBERS
· EMF: Communiqué 3rd Way
The European Multicultural Foundation (EMF) published the first issue of a new quarterly newsletter “Communiqué 3rd Way”, intended to provoke thought and analysis on issues of multiculturalism. Read the newsletter (English only)
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE EU
· ERRC and AIS urge Slovene Government to act on key concerns identified by the Human Rights Committee
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and Amnesty International Slovenia (AIS) on 6 September welcomed the Concluding Observations of the UN Human Rights Committee on Slovenia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. AIS remains deeply concerned especially regarding the ‘erased’ permanent residents of Slovenia, who were legally residing in Slovenia as citizens of ex-Yugoslavia, and many of whom have after the unlawful ‘erasure’ still not yet been able to regularize their status. The ERRC stated that the Committee’s findings bring much-needed light on a number of unresolved issues in Slovenia, particularly as they relate to Roma. Both call on the Slovene government to take action.
Read the Joint Statement – Read the full text of the Human Rights Committee’s Concluding Observations on Slovenia.
Also read a March 2005 press release by AI, entitled Slovenia: Restore the rights of the “erased”: in English // in French
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (EC) AND OTHER EU INSTITUTIONS
· Commission wants streamline measures on illegal immigrants
On 1 September EU Commissioner Franco Frattini announced a major package of proposals aimed at harmonising member state rules on illegal immigration and the returning of failed asylum seekers. In order to bring ‘asylum shopping’ and illegal immigration to an end, the Commission called upon member states to adopt stricter common rules governing the return of illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers to their home countries. Read more in English // in French, as well as http://euobserver.com/?aid=19770&rk=1
· Barroso pessimistic about future of EU constitution
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso appears to have written off the chances of the EU constitution being revived in the near future, indicating that the bloc will have to make do with its current treaty. Read more
· European Parliament adopts PROGRESS
On 6 September, the European Parliament adopted the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS), which will cover the EU's activities in the field of social inclusion from 2007 to 2013. The Programme aims to address social inclusion, non-discrimination and gender equality. The report presented by MEP Karin Jöns notably states that “The involvement of NGOs active at regional, national and EU levels is important for the successful implementation of the Programme’s general objectives, and they should therefore play a substantial part, through relevant EU networks, in devising, implementing and monitoring the Programme.” Read more in English // in French
Read the report (ref A6-0199/2005) in English // in French
· Consultation on code of conduct for non-profit organisations
The EC is holding an Open consultation on the “Draft Recommendations to Member States regarding a Code of Conduct for Non-profit Organisations to Promote Transparency and Accountability Best Practices,” aimed at actors of the non-profit sector. According to the EC, the Draft Recommendations aim at promoting, on a voluntary basis, transparency and accountability best practices within the non-profit sector with a view to protecting it against the threat of being exploited for the financing of terrorism and for other kind of criminal abuse. It should be noted that the initiative has raised strong concerns within the NGOs community. Read for example the preliminary response by ECAS (European Citizen Action Service) and the comments by ACN (Active Citizenship Network).
Written contributions should be sent to the European Commission, DG Justice, Freedom and Security, to the attention of Ms Dora Balazs and Mr Nicholas Kaye: dora.balazs@cec.eu.int and nicholas.kaye@cec.eu.int.
Deadline: 19 September 2005 (extended from the original 26 August deadline)
· Council of Europe reforms to the European Court of Human Rights
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) sent a letter to the Council of Europe, urging its Secretary General to ensure the transparency and fairness of future reforms to the European Court of Human Rights by including independent experts on the so-called “Group of Wise Persons” charged with drawing up a long-term comprehensive strategy for insuring the effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights. The ERRC specifically calls for the inclusion of NGO representatives in the Group, as well as of lawyers with recognized competence in the field of international law. It also calls for transparency in the course of constituting the Group, as well as for attention to ensuring adequate representation to victim groups. Read the letter
ROMA ISSUES
· Bulgaria: PM urged to intervene to stop forced housing expulsion
· ERRC presses for criminal charges related to extreme harms in Northern Kosovo
CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, MEETINGS & EVENTS
· Living Together - The European Coalition of Cities against Racism
Date and venue: 23-24 September, Nuremberg (Germany)
The International Coalition of Cities against Racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in March 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experiences in order to improve their policies to fight racism, discrimination and xenophobia. The conference intends to deal with municipal scope for action in the fight against anti-Semitism and discrimination. The basis for the conference will be the Ten-Point Plan of Action developed by UNESCO. The conference aims at intensifying the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination at a local level and at extending the circle of municipalities which commit themselves to co-operating actively in this important task. Read more (English and German)
· Reminder: Bridging Cultures and Identities
Date and venue: 11-15 November 2005, Cyprus
In Weekly Mail 6 we already mentioned this conference, which will discuss issues such as dealing with an enlarged Europe, how to manage the new forms of migration, and the development from national identity to European identity. We have been asked to remind you that the deadline for nominations for the Conference is 15 September 2005. Read more (English only)
· European Sex Workers Conference on Human Rights, Labour and Migration
Date and venue: 15-17 October, Brussels
The conference aims to bring sex workers, representatives from relevant organisations in the field of human rights, labour and migration, and a limited number of academics and politicians together. The first day is restricted to sex workers only. On the second day, workshops around the major themes of human rights, labour and migration/ trafficking will focus on identifying the main issues in the areas concerned and how to address them. The following day, the results will be presented and discussed with politicians, both from a national level and from the European Parliament. For more information
PUBLICATIONS
· Stop Discrimination Newsletter, September 2005.
The September issue of this e-newsletter issued by the Anti-Discrimination Unit of the European Commission has just been distributed. It contains up-to-date information on the topic of anti-discrimination and on the campaign. To subscribe to the e-mail newsletter, you can register on the Stop Discrimination website (the newsletter is only available in English for the time being).